[nateman_doo]

After sitting through the videos on the mach 3 video tutorials, I can't seem to get the motors to turn. They power up and lock in place, and I can jog on the computer,but the motors aren't moving.

I just downloaded the mach3 demo last night so its the newest version.

[ger21]

Make sure the port address, and ports and pins are all set correctly.

[nateman_doo]

I think they are?

[rewster]

what driver setup are you using? the gecko .xml got mine running with no problems

[nateman_doo]

where & how do you upload these .xml files? I have the xml files for my sound logic break out board, but unsure how to load them into Mach3. wasn't in the tutorial videos I watched. The guy said there wasn't much to getting the motors turning.

[cornbinder23]

It is on the gecko website IF you are using the G540
if not then you will have to adress step and direction signals in ports and pins in mach
G540 4-Axis Motor Control

JTCUSTOMS

[nateman_doo]

I am using the Gecko G201X, G201X 10 Microstep Drive
with the following breakout board, Campbell Designs - CNC with Bob Campbell.

Just not sure how to upload the XML's into Mach. I am still trying to find the info.

Edit: Seems I am not the only one:
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/keling...nto_mach3.html

[hoss2006]

Just drap and drop the .xml into your Mach3 folder, when you run the Mach 3 loader
you'll see 540B as one of the choices.
Load that one.
Hoss

[hoss2006]

Campbell's .xml can be done the same way.
Campbell Designs - CNC with Bob Campbell
You could write down or check out their screen grabs of the figures used on each to compare.
Hoss

[nateman_doo]

Got it to work. Problem is the motors are backwards, and the Y axis sounds crunchy, while the X moves well. No idea, both just as easy to move with the power off.

[mwood3]

Got it to work. Problem is the motors are backwards, and the Y axis sounds crunchy, while the X moves well. No idea, both just as easy to move with the power off.

that crunchy sound is most likely missed steps...lower accel and/or velocity untill it goes away...then build in a little safety margin...doesnt really take "much" force to cut most of the energy is spent moving the table...if it will rapid without missing steps with the gibs tightened properly then good chance you will have no problem cutting...

[nateman_doo]

it barely moves & crunches. sounds like a problem with the motor. I have the same settings for both X & Y. I have the gibs very loose. Like I said, it moves effortlessly with no power, but pains, grinds and crunches to move during a very slow jog. Found the reverse motor fix btw.

[mwood3]

it barely moves & crunches. sounds like a problem with the motor. I have the same settings for both X & Y. I have the gibs very loose. Like I said, it moves effortlessly with no power, but pains, grinds and crunches to move during a very slow jog. Found the reverse motor fix btw.

maybe you could post a video with sound?

[nateman_doo]

The only reason I can think that the motor would sound & perform awful is because I was grinding the ballscrew in the vicinity of the motor, and some of the metal powder got close to the shaft of the motor. There is a magnet in there so they all were attracted to it. Perhaps some particulates got into the motor. I am going to try and take the motor apart today and see if anything got in there (provided the motor can be taken apart easily).

[LeeWay]

I would not take the motor apart. Taking a stepper apart can damage the motor. Steppers can and do talk to you. It is telling you something, but not that it needs to be taken apart.
If you didn't do a bench test, then this is what you should try first. Just disconnect the coupling and then give it a shot.

[nateman_doo]

How does one do a bench test? I was afraid to just power up wires with a 18V DC drill battery. Can I do such a thing?

[LeeWay]

I was just meaning to run the system completely wired, but with the motors not connected to the screws. That way you are testing just the motors.

[nateman_doo]

Why would that be necessary, if when I power down I can move the table with one finger in both directions? I am working on uploading a video so you can hear the crunching the Y axis makes, vs the smooth X Axis.

[LeeWay]

There are so many things that could be wrong that it is really a process of elimination when trouble shooting these machines.
The noise you are hearing may be heard with the motor disconnected, but then maybe not. It's just one elimination step.
You might try checking the active high or low for the steps too. They may not all be actually the same depending on how it's all wired.

[Fixittt]

Nate, you asked for advise. If your not going to follow the setup procedure, then how can you expect to solve your problems?

The bench test is to check the motors with no load. If you run the motors without the weight of the machine, and it still makes the grinding noise then you know its the electronics and not grasping at straws. Just because you can freely turn the axis by hand doesnt mean a thing. You are not rotating the screws near the RPM that the motor is trying to.

As for the axis moving in the wrong direction, that is an easy fix.....

Config --> Homing/limits ---> in the first column "Reversed" simply check the axis`s that are moving the wrong way.